Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk

The Yew Tree Hill Loop Walk is a medium-grade outing above Dunmanway in West Cork, covering 7.0 km / 4.4 mi with 174 m / 571 ft of climbing and about 233 m / 764 ft of descent. Although named as a loop, this mapped line is a point-to-point walk that finishes in Market Square in Dunmanway, so it works best for walkers who plan their return in advance. Allow about 2 hours for the route. The high point is 224 m / 734 ft, with the route reaching Mount Gunnery at around the halfway mark.

The route

From the upland start, the walk heads across open hillside and quieter tracks before looping around the higher ground north of town. Mount Gunnery, at 223 m, comes 3.1 km from the start and gives the walk its main elevated section. After the hillier opening half, the route trends downhill towards Dunmanway and ends at Market Square, making this a good choice for walkers who want a short hill walk that finishes with shops and services close at hand.

Terrain and difficulty

This is a medium walk rather than a gentle town ramble. The route packs steady ascent into a relatively short distance, and the upland sections are likely to feel more exposed than the lower approach into town. Walkers should expect a mix of minor roads, farm or access tracks, and rougher ground on the hill, with proper footwear useful in wet weather.

Getting there

The finish is in the centre of Dunmanway at Market Square, so the simplest plan is often to leave a car in town and arrange a lift or taxi to the start. Dunmanway is served by Bus Éireann, which makes the town practical for walkers arriving without a car. Drivers will find Dunmanway a straightforward base in West Cork, and the town centre is the natural place to organise supplies before or after the walk.

Highlights along the way

The walk explores the hill country above Dunmanway, with broad West Cork views likely on the more open sections around Mount Gunnery. Nearby uplands form part of the wider Shehy landscape, an area known for open hills and woodland.

Dunmanway and the wider landscape

Finishing in Dunmanway adds some local character to the day. Market Square remains the core of the town, and Dunmanway developed as a market centre with streets radiating from the square.